One-motion collapsible carriage



Aug. 4, 1942. s. KROLL EI'AL ONE-MOTION COLLAPSIBLE CARRIAGE 2Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 12, 1942 Samuel Kroll Mzzw JKmZZ INVENTORS m/214% THE/z .4 772241404 g- I942. SQKROLL EIAL ONE-MOTION COLLAPSIBLECARRIAGE Filed Jan. 12, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 u LKz'oll/ kyfi gfz nJliroll I INVENTORS 'BY/ 77/:72. Arron/V574 Patented Aug. 4, 1942 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE ONE-MOTION COLLAPSIBLE CARRIAGE Samuel Kroll andNathan J. Kroll, Chicago, 111. Application January 12, 1942, Serial No.426,454

10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in collapsible carriagestructures and has as its object the provision of an improved one-motioncollapsible baby carriage which will be simple in construction,economical in manufacture and highly eflicient in use.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a folding carriagestructure including a hood which is collapsible simultaneous with thecollapsing of the folding carriage structure.

A further object of this invention is the provision in folding carriagesof a removable collapsible hood structure which is adapted, whenassembled on the carriage; to be collapsible along with the foldingoperation of the carriage.

Still another object of our invention is the provision in improvedcollapsible baby carriages of toggle brackets for a hood structure andadapted to receive a thrust imparted by the collapsing carriage so as tobreak the toggle brackets and fold the hood structure.

Other advantages and novel aspects of our invention will appear morefully as the description thereof proceeds in View of the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a folding baby carriage gear embodyingour invention and with the wheels and body in phantom;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the baby carriage gearof Fig. 1 illustrating the initial movement in the folding operationthereof;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the carriage gear of Figs. 1 and 2, atslightly larger scale and in totally collapsed condition;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section as seensubstantially along line 44 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational View of a modified form of ourinvention;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of our modified form shown incollapsed condition; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of our modified form of theinvention as seen from above in Fig. 6.

As shown in the drawings, one of the salient objects of our invention isto provide in collapsible carriages a folding hood structure which is soarranged on the carriage as to comprise a part of the entire collapsiblestructure. In accomplishing this result there is provided a collapsiblecarriage gear wherein an element thereof is movable toward and away fromthe normal hood position.

The particular carriage gear illustrated has been found adaptable to thefunction intended and is that gear structure which is discloseddescribed and claimed in our United States Letters Patent No. 2,226,000issued December 24, 1940.

For the purpose of clarity there is shown in Fig. 1 a type of foldingcarriage structure which includes a wheel chassis or running geargenerally indicated at l2. Upon this running gear I2 are mountedopposite pairs of scissors arms each including a longer arm l3 and ashorter arm M, the arms of each pair being joined by a scissors pivotI5, and the lower end of each arm being connected to a shackle I 6 whichis, in turn, pivotally connected to an axle H. The general carriagestructure is completed by the provision of a folding lever structure 22having pivotal connection adjacent its lower end, as at 18, with theupper end of the short arm l4 and also having pivotal connection as atIS with a top rail 20 at the point of convergence therewith.

The top rail 20 is pivotally connected as at 2| with the upper end ofthe longer arm [3 on each side of the carriage, while the leverstructure 22 forms an extension for the short arm I4 and is pivotallyconnected to the top rail 20 on each side of the carriage. The top rails20 on each side are held in spaced relation, as shown, by a suitablerail 23. A U-shaped frame element 24 overlies the opposite ends of thetop rail 20, which ends are attached to the underside of the frame 24 byangle clips 25.

A suitable latch means 26 is provided on each of the folding levers 22,which latch means is so arranged and constructed as to include a slidinglatch bolt 26 spring-urged into latched engagement with the free end 21of the short arms I4. Such a latch structure is shown, described andclaimed in our aforementioned Letters Patent and includes a hand grip 28linked to the sliding bolt 26' so as to permit manual release of thebolt from the latch in order that the scissors frame may collapse by itsown weight.

The upper ends of the folding lever structure 22 are joined by a tubularmember 29 which facilitates a handle whereby the carriage may be pushedin perambulator fashion. Mounted upon the U-shaped frame 24 is a hoodstructure generally indicated at 39. There is provided on each side ofthe carriage, upon the parallel legs of the frame member 24, asupporting angle clip 3| which is adapted to receive a stud screw 32having an ornamental head 33 with a knurled edge to facilitate handoperation of the stud screw 32. The hood 30 is constructed by providinga plurality of bows 34 having their free ends pivotally joined as at 35on each side of the hood. The bight portions of these bows are attachedto a fabric covering 36 and are so arranged as to support the covering36 in the form shown in the drawings and to permit collapsibility of thehood. The lowermost bow 34 has an end portion 38 on each of its legelements extending beyond the pivotal joint 35 of'the several bows andadapted to be pivotally supported on the angle clips 3| by means of thestud screws 32.

The lowermost bow 34' is clamped down upon the U-shaped frame element 24by means of a hook 39 and wing nut 46. The wing nut 46 is threadablyarranged on the shank of the hook 39 after the shank has been insertedthrough a hole formed in the medial portion of the frame 24. The bookend 39 is then disposed over the bight portion of the lower bow 34 andthe wing nut screwed tightly upon the shank, thus urging the bow 34'downwardly upon the top surface of the frame 24. This hook and wing nutassembly, in conjunction with the clip and stud 3 |-32, provides a meansfor detachably fastening the hood to the carriage. coincidentally tofastening the hood to the carriage, the hook and Wing nut cause thefabric seam on the lower bow 34 to press firmly down upon the topsurface of the frame 24 to provide a weather seal which preventsinfiltration of air as well as snow and rain. This fastening means has afurther function in holding the hood firm with respect to the carriagegear l2, and that function is to assist in the collapsibility of thehood jointly with respect to the carriage gear as will now be explained.

Each side of the hood 30 is provided with a folding bracket 4| whichcomprises two essential parts in the form of struts 42 and 43 joined toprovide a central breaking point in the bracket. The strut 42 has itsfree end pivotally connected as at 44 to the leg portion of the foremosthow 34" while the opposite end of the strut 42 is pivotally connected asat 45 to a disc 46 and eccentrically with respect thereto. The otherstrut 43 is fastened at one end to the disc 46 so as to move in unisontherewith and has pivotal connection as at 41 near its opposite end withthe leg portion of the lowermost bow 34'. The arrangement is such thatwhen the hood structure 36 is opened as shown in the drawing, there is atendency for the fabric cover 36 to be stretched and consequently todraw the pivoted bows toward a collapsed condition. However, the bracket4| when placed in condition to hold the hood in opened condition, is soconstructed as to be sprung into opened or straightened condition by theforce held in the bracket 4| by action of the constant tendency of thefabric to urge the hood toward closed condition. This is so because thetwo struts 42-43 have their pivot points 44 and 41 respectively disposedless than 180 (on that side of the disc 46 nearest the pivot mounting 32for the hood 36) distance from each other relative to the pivot 45. Inorder to break the bracket 4| so as to permit folding of the hood 36, ahand grip 48 is provided on each of the brackets 4|. This hand grip 46is a portion of the strut 43 extending obliquely from the disc 46 in theform shown in Figs. 1 and 2 such that downward pressure on the hand grip48 will pivot the bracket at 45, thus breaking the bracket andpermitting the hood to fall into collapsed condition.

Means are provided for operatively connecting the hood brackets 4| tothe scissors frame l2. Such means includes an extended arm 49 on thestrut member 43, which arm 49 extends beyond 75 :breaking point 65.

" with respect thereto.

the pivotal connection 47. A link member 50 is pivotally connected tothe free end of the arm 49 as at 5| and has formed adjacent its oppositeend an elongated slot 52. Centrally with respect to the length of slot52, there is an enlarged annular opening through which is passed thehead end 53 of a pivot pin 54 carried on the long arm l3 of the scissorsframe. The arrangement is such that when the folding carriage gear I2 isopen and the hood 39 is in raised condition, the link 56 will be forceddownwardly with the upper end of the slot bearing down upon the pin 54.

As will be seen in Fig. 2, the carriage is released for foldingoperation by merely raising the handles 28 upwardly to release thelatches 26 on each of the short arms I4. Upon release of the latches 26the weight of the carriage body (shown in phantom) as well as that ofthe hood, rail and frame will weigh down on the scissors arms, causingthe latter to collapse toward the horizontal. The rotation of thescissors arms l3 clockwise about the pivot 2| (Fig. 2) imparts an upwardthrust against the link 56, thus raising the extended arm 49counterclockwise about the pivot 41. It will be remembered that whilethe pivot 41 is on a movable element, 1. e. the lowermost how 34, thiselement 34 is held in fixed relation with respect to the carriage framel2 and therefore constitutes a fixed pivot. The anticlockwise movementthus imparted to the arm 49 will cause a like rotation of the strutmember 43, thereby breaking the straight line condition of the foldingbracket 4|, whereupon the hood 36 will fall into a collapsed conditionas shown in Fig. 3. Thus, it is seen that each time the carriage gear |2is folded, the hood 39 will collapse simultaneously therewith upon thesingle folding operation of the carriage.

In the modified form of our invention shown in Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive,the folding carriage gear !2 and hood structure 36 are identical. Likereference numerals therefore indicate like ele-- ments on the two formsof disclosure. The folding bracket 6| of our modified form is reversedfrom that shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive and is adapted to break in adirection away from the hood mounting clips 3|.

The brackets 6| are composed of two elements in the form of struts 62and 63 joined at a centra The lowermost strut 62 is pivotally connectedas at 64 to the leg portion of the lowermost bow member 34 of the hoodstructure. The opposite end of strut 62 is pivotally connected as at 65to a disc 66, and eccentrically The remaining strut 63 of the bracket 6|which is affixed to the disc 66, extends upwardly and has its free endpivotally connected as at 67 to the leg portions of the foremost bowmember 34". This bracket 6|, like the bracket 4|, is adapted to beforced into a straight line condition and to cooperate with theelasticity of the fabric covering 36 to maintain the hood 39 in openedcondition.

Means for joining the hood structure and carriage gear for simultaneousoperation upon col- This connection is a loosely mounted connection andincludes an elongated slot 12 formed in the link 10. An oblique passageH is out into the bottom edge of the slot 12 through the surroundingportion of the link 10, thus permitting passage of a pin element 14carried by the lever arm 22.

The arrangement is such that when the latches 26 are released and thecarriage gear l2 commences to collapse as hereinbefore explained, thelever structure 22 will pivot at I9, with respect to the horizontal rail20, in a clockwise direction. The pin 14 will bear against the end ofthe slot 12 and urge the link toward the rear of the carriage while theopposite end of the link 10 will exert on upward, rearward pressure onthe hand grip 68 of the bracket 6| to break the latter and permit thehood structure to assume a collapsed condition as shown in Fig. 6.

It is particularly pointed out that in both forms shown the hood 30 maybe removed from the carriage proper without use of tools, since both thelinks 10 and 50 are free to move out of assembled relation with respectto the pins 74-55 respectively. The hood 3B is otherwise removable byloosening the stud screws 32 and the wing nut 40.

From the foregoing it is apparent that we have provided a one-motioncollapsible baby carriage which is simply constructed and is easilyhandled to accomplish the folding operation.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying our invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of suchvariations and modifications as come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a folding carriage, means providing a collapsible frame includinga rectangular shaped horizontal top rail, a hood structure mounted uponsaid top rail and adapted to be opened and closed at the option of theuser, folding bracket means arranged on each side of said hood structureand adapted to be sprung into hood extending condition to maintain thelatter in opened condition, and link means between said collapsibleframe and said folding brackets and adapted when the former is foldedinto collapsed condition to exert pressure upon said folding bracket tobreak the latter and permit closing of said hood structure.

2. In a folding carriage, means providing a collapsible frame includinga rectangular shaped horizontal top rail, a hood structure mounted uponsaid top rail and adapted to be opened and closed at the option of theuser, folding bracket means arranged on each side of said hood structureand adapted to be sprung into hood extending condition to maintain thelatter in opened condition, and link means between said collapsibleframe and said folding brackets and adapted when the former is foldedinto collapsed condition to exert pressure upon said folding bracket tobreak the latter and permit closing of said hood structure,simultaneously with the collapse of the frame as aforesaid.

3. In a folding carriage, a carriage gear including a pair of scissorsarms pivotally connected between their ends, the lower ends of saidscissors arms having connection with an axle structure, a horizontal toprail at each side of the .carriage and supported at the upper ends ofsaid scissors arms, a hood structure arranged for pivotal movement uponthe upper surface of said top rail, means fastening said hood structureon said top rail, folding bracket means for said hood structure andadapted to be sprung over center into a straight line bracket, and linkmeans connecting said folding bracket with one of said scissors arms oneach side of the carriage whereby to impart a thrust against saidfolding bracket when the scissors arms are pivoted into collapsedcondition.

4. In a folding carriage, a carriage gear in cluding a pair of scissorsarms pivotally connected between their ends, the lower ends of sa dscissors arms having connection with an axle structure, a horizontal toprail at each side of the carriage and supported at the upper ends ofsaid scissors arms, a hood structure arranged for pivotal movement uponthe upper surface of said top rail, means fastening said hood structureon said top rail, folding bracket means for said hood structure andadapted to be sprung over center into a straight line bracket, linkmeans connecting said folding bracket with one of said scissors arms oneach side of the carriage whereby to impart a thrust against saidfolding bracket when the scissors arms are pivoted into collapsedcondition, and means releasably holding said scissors arms for foldingaction as aforesaid.

5. In a one-motion collapsible baby carriage, a folding carriage gearincluding a pair of long scissors arms and a pair of short scissors armsand means pivotally connecting one of each of the latter with theformer, the lower ends of said scissors arms having shackle connectionwith an axle gear structure, a horizontally disposed top rail for saidcarriage, means pivotally connec ing the upper end of said long scissorsarms to said top rail, a handle structure comprising a pair ofparallelly disposed lever arms, pivot means connecting said lever armson said top rail intermediate their ends, means pivotally connecting thelowermost ends of said lever arms with the upper ends of said shortscissors arms, latch means for supporting said short scissors arms inalignment with said lever arms when said carriage is in unfoldedcondition, a folding hood structure, means supporting said hoodstructure on said top rails, folding bracket means for said hoodstructure and including a pair of strut members pivotally connectedadjacent their ends and having their opposite ends connected to theforemost and lowermost edges of said hood structure and adapted toassume a relatively straight line when sprung over center in onedirection to maintain the hood open and to fold back upon itself whensprung over center in an opposite direction to permit folding of thehood, an extension on the lowermost one of said strut members, aconnecting rod between said extension and the long scissors arm wherebywhen said latch means is released to collapse the carriage the pivotalaction of said long scissors arms will exert a thrust against theextension on said strut member to spring said folding bracket back uponitself for the purpose aforesaid.

6. In a one-motion collapsible baby carriage, a folding carriage gearincluding a pair of long scissors arms and a pair of short scissors armsand means pivotally connecting one of each of the latter with theformer, the lower ends of said scissors arms having shackle connectionwith an axle gear structure, a horizontally disposed top rail for saidcarriage, means pivotally conlnecting the upper end of said longscissors arms to said top rail, a handle structure comprising a pair ofparallelly disposed lever arms, pivot means connecting said lever armson said top rail intermediate their ends, means pivotally connecting thelowermost ends of said lever arms with the upper ends of said shortscissors arms, latch means for supporting said short scissors arms inalignment with said lever arms when said carriage is in unfoldedcondition, a folding hood structure, means supporting said hookedstructure on said top rails, folding bracket means for said hoodstructure and including a pair of strut members pivotally connectedadjacent their ends and having their opposite ends connected to theforemost and lowermost edges of said hood structure and adapted toassume a relatively straight line when sprung over center in onedirection to maintain the hood open and to fold back upon itself whensprung over center in an opposite direction to permit folding of thehood, a hand grip on one of said strut members and adapted when forcedupwardly to spring said folding bracket for folding action, a connectingrod between said hand grip and the lever arms whereby when said latchmeans is released to collapse the carriage the pivotal action of saidlever arms will impart an upward thrust on said hand grip for thepurpose aforesaid 7. In a one-motion collapsible baby carriage includinga folding carriage gear of the scissors type and a folding hoodstructure having a pair of toggle brackets adapted to assume arelatively straight line to provide a hood expanding bracket and adaptedto be sprung over center at its mid point to permit hood folding, thecombination of lever means formed integrally with said toggle bracketand adapted when upward pressure is applied thereto to spring saidbracket over center for the purpose aforesaid, and means operativelyconnecting said lever means with said folding carriage gear and adaptedto transmit upward pressure from the latter to the former.

8. In a one-operation collapsible baby carriage including a foldingcarriage gear having collapsible scissors arms for supporting a frameelement in horizontal condition and a folding hood structure arranged onsaid frame element and including folding brackets on each side of saidhood structure and adapted to assume a relatively straight line whenmaintaining the hood in expanded condition and adapted to be sprung overformed in the opposite end of said link means,

means on one of said scissors arms on each side of the carriage andadapted to be disposed in said slot and to bear against said link meansto impart a thrust to the latter and said lever when the scissors armsare collapsed.

9. In a one-operation collapsible baby carriage including a foldingcarriage gear having collapsible scissors arms for supporting a frameelement in horizontal condition and a folding hood structure arranged onsaid frame element and including folding brackets on each side of saidhood structure and adapted to assume a relatively straight line whenmaintaining the hood in expanded condition and adapted to be sprung overcenter at its mid point to permit hood folding, the combination of meansfor folding said hood structure simultaneously with the foldingoperation of said folding carriage, said means including a lever formedon said folding bracket and adapted to receive a thrust to spring thelatter over center for the purpose aforesaid, a link means between saidlever and a portion of said collapsible scissors arms, and adapted toimpart a thrust to said lever when the scissors arms are collapsed tofold the carriage.

10. In a folding carriage structure including a collapsible scissorsframe and means for collapsing the same together with a folding hoodstructure afiixed to said frame and having toggle brackets formaintaining the hood structure in opened condition, the combination ofmeans for simultaneously folding said hood structure with said foldingcarriage, said means including an arm extending from said toggle bracketand adapted to receive a thrust to urge the latter over center forfolding action, a bar pivotally connected to the end of said arm, meansremovably connecting said bar to one arm of said scissors frame andadapted to receive a thrust from the latter when being collapsed and toimpart said thrust to said arm for the purpose aforesaid.

SAMUEL KROLL. NATHAN J. KROLL.

